In its efforts to harness the full potentials of Nigerian deep seaport, President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has shown the desire to strengthen the vast potentials of the Maritime Sector for a sustainable economy by inaugurating a 12-man Committee on Bakassi deep seaport.
The Committee, among others, is to pilot the initial process for the actualisation of the Deep Seaport and organise various investors’ roundtable discussions and interactive fora.
It is also to coordinate all procurement processes in collaboration with the Cross River State government, Federal Ministries of Transportation and Finance, and Nigerian Ports Authority in line with Public Procurement Act of 2007.
Inaugurating the Committee, the Hon. Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, charged the members of the Committee to bring their experience and expertise to bear on their national assignment, assuring them of the government’s support and assistance to achieve the aims and objectives of the government.
The Minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Sabiu Zakari said that the Bakassi Deep Seaport would serve as one of the primary catalysts for a sustainable development of the Nigerian economy by attracting direct and indirect investment that would help to diversify and strengthen the industrial base of Nigeria.
“The geographical location of Bakassi Deep Seaport provides accessibility to both Eastern and Northern regions of the country and also countries on the corridor of the Chad Basin”, he said.
Amaechi, who stressed the importance of Maritime Sector in Nigeria, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment towards the development of Ports infrastructure in the country, adding that the intense demand for capital investment for the development of Port infrastructure has become the major impetus for government, resulting in the adoption of new strategy and means for delivering on its responsibility.
Responding, the Chairman of the Committee, the Director of Maritime Services in the Ministry, Mallam Sanni Umar Galandanchi, promised to work assiduously with members of the Committee in order to justify the confidence the Federal Government reposed on them.
The Bakassi Deep Seaport is to be developed jointly by the Cross River State government in partnership with the private investors under Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, to accommodate the high volume of Cargo generated through domestic and international Maritime trade.
Source: today.ng
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